So who is Daniil Kvyat

NEWS STORY22/10/2013

Born on April 26, 1994 in Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia, Kvyat first stepped into a kart when he was eight. After being spotted racing at his local 'Kart-land', he began racing competitively in 2005. Twelve months later, he and his family moved to Rome and he started competing in the Italian Championship. He has since become an avid AS Roma soccer fan.

In 2008 the Russian finished third in the KF3 European Championship and runner-up in the Asia Pacific Championship, while 2009 saw him take 2nd in the WSK International Series and 3rd in the European Championship. For 2010 he stepped up to open wheel formula cars and drove Formula BMW in the European and Pacific series, he picked up 2 wins in the Pacific races.

Kvyat went to New Zealand and contested the Toyota Racing Series in January and February 2011 with Victory Motor Racing, finishing fifth in the championship with a win in the Dan Higgins Trophy at Manfield and another 5 podiums.

Those experiences prepared him well for the summer season in Europe and the move to Formula Renault Eurocup and NEC, in which he finished 3rd and 2nd respectively.

Kvyat joined Koiranen Motorsport with his Formula BMW and Red Bull Junior teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. for full 2011 seasons in both the Eurocup and Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup. He finished runner-up behind Sainz Jr. in the NEC standings with 7 wins (including a hat-trick at Monza). In Eurocup he was often chasing Sainz Jr. but scored victories at Spa and the Nurburgring.

While Sainz moved on to F3, Kvyat remained with the Renault series. He enjoyed a great season in 2012 with 14 wins in Formula Renault 2.0. He also contested both the Eurocup where 7 victories took him to 2nd place and the Alps series where another 7 wins gave him the title.

His 2012 results showed he had little more to learn in Renault 2.0 and a move to GP3 was the obvious step for 2013. He joined fellow Red Bull protege Carlos Sainz Jr. in the MW Arden team where their rivalry was renewed.

Currently second in the GP3 championship, seven points adrift of Argentina's Facu Regalia, with just the Abu Dhabi rounds remaining, in May Kvyat got the chance to race in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship round at Hockenheim driving a Dallara VW for Carlin. Taking pole position for Race 3 and a 3rd place finish in that race led to him signing up for the rest of the season. As a guest driver, he did not accrue championship points.

On July 19, Kvyat - seen here practising the di Resta pout - made his F1 debut when he participated in the Young Driver Test at Silverstone. The youngster completed just 22 laps, the Faenza team having to reduce his track-time after a car issue had restricted Jean-Eric Vergne's running.